The IPL 2025 auction, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was nothing short of historic, with Punjab Kings making headlines by securing two key players Arshdeep Singh and Shreyas Iyer. While retaining Arshdeep Singh with a Right-to-Match (RTM) for ₹18 crore, the franchise splashed out ₹26.75 crore to acquire Shreyas Iyer, marking him as one of the most expensive Indian players in IPL history.
Arshdeep Singh, the backbone of Punjab Kings' bowling attack, was hot property at the auction. A fierce bidding war involving franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Gujarat Titans saw his value skyrocket to ₹15.75 crore. But Punjab Kings ensured his retention with a bold RTM call, underlining their faith in the left-arm pacer, who has been a revelation on the international stage.
Here is Arshdeep Singh’s reaction:
Arshdeep’s standout performances in the recent T20 World Cup, where he picked up 17 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 12.47, have solidified his reputation as a white-ball specialist. Reacting to the news, Arshdeep expressed his joy in a heartfelt video shared by the franchise. “Punjabi aa gaye oye! Punjab, Punjabi, Punjabiyat! Bahut bahut khushiyan wapis aye hai (Very, very happy to come back to Punjab). I hope that we win the trophy this season,” he said, brimming with optimism for the upcoming tournament.
Shreyas Iyer becomes the second most expensive player!
On the other hand, the acquisition of Shreyas Iyer was a statement of intent from Punjab Kings. The former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper, who led his team to victory in IPL 2025, sparked a bidding war between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals.
Here is Iyer’s reaction:
Ultimately, Punjab emerged victorious, securing Iyer for ₹26.75 crore, only for this record to be broken moments later when Lucknow Super Giants bought Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore. Shreyas, in his first interaction as a Punjab player, shared his excitement. “Hello, everyone! Delighted to join the Punjab Kings family. I can’t wait to kick-start the season. Looking forward!” he said in a video message.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting spoke about the possible captaincy options. He said, "I haven't spoken to Shreyas Iyer yet on the captaincy. I called him before the auction, but he didn't pick up. He's been a successful IPL captain, and I'm delighted to work with him again".
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